Passive start drip chamber

Abstract

A drip chamber is described that is used in medical infusion therapy, wherein the drip chamber utilizes valving to control flow of one or more fluids to a patient. The drip chamber includes a body forming a chamber, wherein fluid may enter via two or more flow ports, and an output port, where fluid may exit the chamber. A float controls fluid flow through one or more flow ports into the chamber such that the flow exiting the chamber may be limited to a single fluid or a combination of the fluids entering the chamber. The float is configured to be retained within the chamber, and the float moves within the chamber based on a level of fluid within the chamber. The control characteristics of the float are determinable by attributing specific buoyancy and dimensions to the float.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A passive start drip chamber device comprising:
 a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, a chamber formed between the top and bottom portions of the body, a first input flow port at the bottom portion of the body, a second input flow port at the top portion of the body, and an output flow port; 
 a first input flow path coupled to and extending from the first input flow port to the top portion of the body such that a fluid flow through the first input flow path enters the chamber through the top portion of the body; and 
 a float positioned within the chamber, between the top portion of the body and the bottom portion of the body, the float configured to move between an occluding configuration, wherein the first input flow path is occluded, and an open configuration, wherein the first input flow path is not occluded, based on a level of fluid within the chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the body comprises a channel that extends into the chamber, wherein the first input flow path extends through the channel. 
     
     
       3. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein the float comprises an elongate member that extends from the float toward the top portion of the body, the elongate member configured to occlude a channel of the body when the float is in the occluding configuration. 
     
     
       4. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein the float is configured to move toward the occluding configuration when a first volume of fluid is within the chamber, and the float is configured to move toward the open configuration when a second volume of fluid, less than the first volume, is within the chamber. 
     
     
       5. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein the float comprises a groove that extends along an outer surface of the float, the groove configured to permit a fluid to move through the chamber, between the top and bottom portions of the body. 
     
     
       6. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein any of the float and the chamber comprise an elongate groove or elongate protrusion, and the other of the float and the chamber comprise the other of an elongate groove or an elongate protrusion, wherein the elongate protrusion and the elongate groove are configured to matingly align the float within the chamber. 
     
     
       7. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein top portion of the body comprises an intravenous bag spike having a lumen fluidly coupled with the second input flow port. 
     
     
       8. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve coupled to the chamber, the valve configured to release a gas from within the chamber. 
     
     
       9. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 1 , wherein a wall of the body, between the top and bottom portions of the body, is sufficiently resilient to permit elastic deformation when collapsed to engage an opposing wall or structures within the chamber. 
     
     
       10. A passive start drip chamber device comprising:
 a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, a chamber formed between the top and bottom portions of the body, a first input flow port at the bottom portion of the body, a second input flow port at the top portion of the body, and an output flow port, wherein a first input flow path is coupled to and extends from the first input flow port to a channel at a top portion of the body; and 
 a float positioned within the chamber, between the channel and the output flow port, the float configured to move toward and away from the channel based on a fluid level within the chamber, such that in an occluding configuration, the channel is occluded by the float, and in an open configuration, the channel is not occluded. 
 
     
     
       11. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein the first input flow path extends through the channel. 
     
     
       12. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein the float comprises an elongate member that extends from the float toward the top portion of the body, the elongate member configured to occlude the channel of the body when the float is in the occluding configuration. 
     
     
       13. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein the float is configured to move toward the occluding configuration when a first volume of fluid is within the chamber, and the float is configured to move toward the open configuration when a second volume of fluid, less than the first volume, is within the chamber. 
     
     
       14. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein the float comprises a groove that extends along an outer surface of the float, the groove configured to permit a fluid to move through the chamber, between the top and bottom portions of the body. 
     
     
       15. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein any of the float and the chamber comprise an elongate groove or an elongate protrusion, and the other of the float and the chamber comprise the other of an elongate groove or elongate protrusion, wherein the elongate protrusion and the elongate groove are configured to matingly align the float within the chamber. 
     
     
       16. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein the top portion of the body comprises an intravenous bag spike having a lumen fluidly coupled with the second input flow port. 
     
     
       17. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , further comprising a valve coupled to the chamber, the valve configured to release a gas from within the chamber. 
     
     
       18. The passive start drip chamber device of  claim 10 , wherein a wall of the body, between the top and bottom portions of the body, is sufficiently resilient to permit elastic deformation when collapsed to engage an opposing wall or structures within the chamber.